It was the summer of 1998. At that point, we were just scrounging around to find resources; we had stolen these computers from all over the department, sort of.

The quote, "It was the summer of 1998. At that point, we were just scrounging around to find resources; we had stolen these computers from all over the department, sort of," comes from Sergey Brin, the co-founder of Google. In this remark, Brin reflects on the early days of Google and how he and his partner, Larry Page, had to be resourceful in the beginning stages of their startup. Brin humorously describes how they gathered computers and other necessary equipment to build the foundation of their new company, despite having limited funding or access to resources. The use of the word "stolen" is an exaggeration, highlighting their struggle to gather the necessary tools in an environment where official support and resources were scarce.

The origin of this quote lies in the early development of Google in 1998, when Brin and Page were working out of a small garage at Stanford University. As young entrepreneurs with a big idea but limited resources, they often had to improvise to make the most of what they had. Brin’s use of the word “scrounging” conveys the sense of scrappiness and resourcefulness that marked the early days of Google, where they had to be creative in overcoming challenges and limitations.

In a broader sense, the quote speaks to the entrepreneurial spirit that drives startups, particularly in the tech industry, where success often comes from innovation and persistence despite the lack of initial resources. Brin’s lighthearted comment about “stealing” computers reflects the hustle and determination that many startup founders go through when they’re starting out with little more than an idea and a drive to make it work.

Ultimately, Brin’s quote is a humorous reflection on the humble beginnings of Google and the struggles that many entrepreneurs face when building something from scratch. It’s a reminder that the early days of many successful companies often involve a lot of improvisation and resourcefulness, and that persistence and creativity are essential to overcoming the challenges of starting a new business.